Pearl Partners

I've never known my friend to be in better form, both mentally and physically, than after we returned from our adventure in Hawaii.

Hercule Peridot, like all great artists lived for arts’ sake, the chase. His mental acuity was heightened when engaged in the science of deduction or traveling the world to renew old friendships. His reputation as a gem expert and personal shopper was growing even more quickly from the blog posts of our adventures that apparently were capturing the attention of many gem enthusiasts.

I’m Adamas Bontemps. Peridot and I had returned home a few weeks ago and I was back to my early morning routine - chronicling our travels. This morning, while tickling the keys on my computer, I received a FaceTime notification to chat. An image of a turquoise door appeared on my screen, [Incoming video from 1740 Tsavorite Lane]. It was Peridot.

Magically, the front door opened and Peridot appeared on my computer screen. He was impeccably dressed; a fine silk vest, and dashing green necktie. His lean, congenial, smiling face radiating from my screen.

“Bontemps, this blog that you insist on posting has yielded some interesting prospects.”

“How do you mean?” I asked.

He leaned back in office chair and with excitement in his manner said, “We've been retained to locate and purchase a strand of rare natural Pearls. I've been studying a recently published book, Splendor and Science of Pearls and have an itch to visit an old colleague of mine from Dubai.”

“Why Dubai?” I asked.

“The Arabian Gulf of course.” he said.

He took a sip of his coffee, dabbed his mustache with a napkin, cleared his throat and began; “From your gemological studies you may remember the Arabian Gulf is the most important source of natural pearls; pearling began there almost 3000 years ago and it is estimated that 70 to 80 percent came from that region until at least the 1930s. Unfortunately, over the years with over fishing and stress on the oceans, the environment for natural pearls has deteriorated.”

“Yes, wasn't it Kokichi Mikimoto of Japan who developed a technique in 1905 to implant a bead in a Mollusk to create cultured pearls?” I asked. “Isn't it a fact that the pearl business today is dominated by cultured pearls?”

“You are correct. However, in an attempt to reclaim its heritage, the emirate of Dubai has set aside some pristine waters to cultivate pearls as Mother Nature does. In nature, a mollusk forms a pearl as a defense mechanism against a foreign body that becomes longed inside the mantle. In the Persian Gulf they have creating conditions for Mollusks to grow pearls spontaneously, much like they were produced in the past.”

“So, what do you propose?” I asked.

“I have a friend in Dubai, a Pearl dealer, I don't believe you've met him.” said Peridot. “He is an amiable fellow with a wealth of knowledge on the Pearl business, I will give him a call.”

“Who would that be?” I asked.

With a rather exuberant smile, Peridot said. “Oh, you will like him, he is well connected and respected in the Pearl trade. You've heard me mention him before in passing, my good friend Benjamin, or as he is affectedly known in the trade - Buck Nacre . . .

. . . To be continued.

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